PEABODY – A chance encounter outside of Peabody’s Ellie Mental Health clinic with a pregnant snapping turtle brought some levity to the day for the clinicians who were lucky enough to be at work.

Laura Smith, a licensed independent clinical social worker and clinical lead at Peabody’s Ellie Mental Health location, was notified while on shift that a turtle was wandering the parking lot. In an attempt to prevent any turtle-related casualties, Smith stood next to the turtle, trying to redirect her back to the grass patch behind the building where a pond resides.

“I stood to her left to annoy her to go over to where the grass and trees are,” Smith said. “I just stewarded her until she was on the grass so no one would hit her.”

Once the turtle had made her way back toward the pond, a fellow clinician told Smith that this particular snapping turtle had been a regular for the last two years.

“I feel like it lifted the vibe of the office for the day,” Smith said. “It was just a very sweet little interlude for us.”

A mulch patch on the clinic’s greenery had become a favorite spot for the turtle to lay her eggs. This patch now is home to a makeshift sanctuary to protect the eggs from any possible human intervention.

While Smith and her colleagues are experts on the health and well-being of humans, Smith holds the belief that all creatures deserve to be given the same level of care, whether they are human or snapping turtle.

“There’s this story where someone is walking along a beach and the tide has just beached hundreds of starfish,” Smith said. “And the person comes across this little girl throwing starfish back into the ocean and asks ‘Why do that? You can’t possibly hope to make a difference here.’ The little girl picked up another starfish and throws it into the ocean and said ‘Made a difference to that one.’”

It is easy to forget in the bustle of life about the animals we coexist with, Smith said. The sanctuary for the baby turtles is a reminder that sometimes all it takes is a few people coming together to make a difference, even if it is as simple as a few popsicle sticks and twine.

While the hatchlings have not been seen yet, there is a chance of a baby turtle appearance in the next month. It is possible the turtles will hatch at night; however, any visitors to the clinic might get lucky enough to see them as they make their way to the pond. Regardless, the Ellie Clinic staff will gladly take a little time out of their busy days to keep an eye on these baby turtles.